Where do you put a dog fence transmitter?
Because the transmitter is the heart of your fence, it must be kept dry, plugged into electricity, and placed in an area with minimal interference.
In order to make sure your transmitter stays in working condition, it’s best to place your transmitter in a location such as a garage or an outdoor shed.
Let’s take a look at why the placement of the transmitter is so important and what factors you should keep in mind when you set up your fence transmitter.
Where Do You Put a Dog Fence Transmitter?
In order to keep your transmitter dry, connected to electricity, and away from interference, we recommend placing your transmitter in a garage or an outdoor shed.
Here are a few tips for when you are deciding where to plug it in:
- Place your transmitter away from breaker boxes or other electric appliances that could cause interference with your invisible fence.
- Find a spot at least 3 feet away from any metal objects as metal can interfere with the fence’s signal by causing the signal to bounce off it.
- Place it on an exterior wall, as close to the yard as possible, so there are fewer walls for the wire or signal to travel through. Avoid concrete walls in particular.
- Find a place fairly close to the ground (no more than 5 feet off the ground). Your fence signal or wire should not have to travel far.
- Avoid putting it near dense bushes or large trees that could interfere with the signal.
- Make sure you are close to a grounded outlet as you will need a safe source of electricity to plug in your transmitter.
- Your transmitter should be somewhere where it will stay dry. If mounting outside, invest in a weatherproof box (found at your local hardware store)
- Find a spot that stays warm. Transmitters should not be exposed to freezing temperatures. If temperatures fall below freezing, put it inside the house or in a heated garage.
Keep this information in mind when you choose your transmitter location to keep your fence running smoothly.
Where Should I Put a Wireless Fence Transmitter?
There are some special considerations for a wireless invisible fence and its transmitters.
Because wireless fences do not use a wire, they fully depend on a signal being sent out at a certain distance from your transmitter.
Your transmitter delivers that signal out in a circular pattern, so you will want to set your transmitter up as close to the center of your yard as possible.
When you set your boundary limits, do not forget about that circular fence pattern.
Your dog may be able to run 500 feet away in the backyard, but you probably will not want your dog to be able to run into your neighbor’s yard, or out front into the road.
Additionally, since wireless fences do not use a wire, pay careful attention to what might disrupt the electric signal, as wireless fences are more prone to interference.
The most common types of wireless dog fence interference are from:
- Metal roofs or aluminum siding
- Large metal objects in the yard
- Steep hills or rough terrain
- Breaker boxes or other large electric appliances near the transmitter
- Large trees or dense brush
- Thick walls
- Neighboring wireless fences
Keep an eye out for all these potential interference factors when choosing a location for your wireless fence transmitter.
Read our related article, Does a Metal Roof Interfere With a Wireless Dog Fence? to see if your metal home, shed, or other building will interfere with your fence.
Where Should I Put a Wired Fence Transmitter?
An underground dog fence has a few other factors to keep in mind.
Wherever you choose to place your transmitter, you will need to be able to run the wire from the transmitter down to your yard, where it will then be safely buried.
If your transmitter is inside, you have a few options:
- You can run the wire through a window or under a garage door.
- You could also drill a small hole through drywall to run the cord through (just make sure to seal the hole).
- Do not run it through any kind of vent, especially a dryer vent, as heat can melt the insulation off the wire, resulting in a dangerous situation and a broken fence.
While your transmitter absolutely needs to stay dry, it is okay if your wire gets wet where it runs from outside down to where it goes under the ground.
The insulation will protect it and ensure that your fence will still operate smoothly.
How Do I Mount It?
If you have a wireless fence, setup is very easy.
For most wireless fence brands, the transmitter will simply sit on a base where it can be plugged in.
However, if you have a transmitter for a wired invisible fence, it will most likely need to be mounted onto the wall.
Most come with screws, but if yours did not, you should be able to pick up the correct size at your local hardware store.
When you mount it, consider also adding a surge protector. Some brands already come with surge protectors included.
But if yours did not, think about investing in one as a safeguard against lightning, especially if you live in an area that is prone to lightning strikes.
It only takes a few extra minutes and a few extra dollars, and it could save your fence from dangerous electrical surges from lightning.
Here’s a video for more information on mounting your wired fence transmitter:
Conclusion
Choose the location of your transmitter carefully.
It needs to be dry, close to a grounded electrical outlet, and away from any potential interference.
A properly placed transmitter means a properly functioning fence!
